Related stories

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Closer Chris Perez had a lot better stuff before Tuesday's game than he did during it.

A couple of hours before game time, Perez went up and in on departed Manny Acta and his managerial style. He must have used all his heat, because he didn't have much left against Dayan Viciedo, who hammered a 426-foot homer to center in the ninth inning.

It looked like certain defeat for Perez and the Tribe until Travis Hafner tied it with a two-run pinch-hit homer in the ninth followed by Jason Donald's game-winning single with two out in the 12th for a 4-3 victory over Chicago.

Perez brings drama even when he doesn't pitch well. Perez hit catcher Tyler Flowers with one out and one on, drawing taunts from the White Sox dugout. Perez gestured back at the Chicago players, who have had a running feud with Perez this season.

Plate umpire Paul Schrieber warned both teams. When the inning ended, Perez met Flowers between second and third base and patted him on the back, saying he didn't intentionally hit him.

There was nothing apologetic about the criticism Perez directed toward Acta. In September, Perez criticized ownership for not spending enough money to have a competitive team. Then he criticized the front office for its poor trading record.

Perez said Tuesday that he did not make those comments to get traded.

"A lot of it was heat of the moment," he said. "I was upset. A lot of that walked out the door last week."

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"I have a great deal of respect for Manny," Indians closer Chris Perez said before Tuesday's game, in addressing fired manager Manny Acta. "I just disagree with some of his baseball tactics and strategies and how he runs the ship."

Perez was referring to Acta's firing on Thursday. Bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. is the acting manager. He's scheduled to interview for the full-time job Thursday followed by former Boston manager Terry Francona on Friday.

In a 15-minute meeting with reporters, Perez listed his complaints with Acta.

• "The Manny [reporters] saw and the Manny we saw were different guys," said Perez. "He's not a very confrontational person.

"In this game we're men. We can handle it. Sometimes we need a kick in the butt. He did it this year, but it was a couple of weeks too late.

"Last year we didn't get it at all. He only gave us two speeches, one at the start of the season and one at the end and we were playing for first place up until September."

Perez said the Indians took on Acta's personality.

"It sounds like a cliche, but a team does follow its manager, good or bad," he said. "If a manager has no activity on the field. If he doesn't argue calls or get upset, why would his team?"

• Perez said Acta seemed to push the panic button in certain series.

"We'd play the Yankees and have to change our whole lineup around," said Perez. "Why?"

He questioned how Acta used the bullpen at times. "OK, it's May and there are only 150 games left," said Perez. "Why use the whole bullpen against Detroit when we're going to play them 15 more times?"

• Perez said he'd go seven to eight days at a time without talking to Acta, unless he was coming into a game in the ninth inning.

"We're a family," he said. "We're together so much. It was just a weird dynamic. I have a great deal of respect for Manny. From what he's accomplished and the charity work he does. I just disagree with some of his baseball tactics and strategies and how he runs the ship."

• Perez said he felt Acta should have been fired on Aug. 8, when pitching coach Scott Radinsky was dismissed following an 11-game losing streak.

"The easiest way to get out of the kind of losing streak we were in is to get a new manager," said Perez. "It shakes things up and gets a new voice. They made the decision with six games left in the season.

"They had their reasons. ... I would have liked to seen what happened if they'd done it after that losing streak when they fired Rad. I would have liked to seen what happened with a month and a half to go. Who knows?

"It wasn't my decision. I stand by what they did. I respect them."

• On Monday, Perez had an hour-long exit meeting with GM Chris Antonetti. Perez did not feel he would get traded.

"I got the impression they were going to build around the bullpen," said Perez.

Justin Masterson made his last start of the season Tuesday. He allowed one run on four hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one. Shin-Soo Choo gave him a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer off Jake Peavy. The White Sox tied it on Orlando Hudson's single in the sixth.

Hafner tied the score, 3-3, with his 200th homer in an Indians uniform off Jake Peavy. It was his third career pinch-hit homer, hitting the right-field foul pole.

Lonnie Chisenhall started the game-winning rally with a one-out double off Matt Thornton (4-10). Russ Canzler was intentionally walked and pinch-hitter Jack Hannahan struck out before Donald sent a 1-1 pitch into left field to win it.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.